Freeney still in town as Chargers try to make up for Ingram’s ACL injury

Career sacks for linebacker Dwight Freeney in 11 seasons with the Colts

Melvin Ingram stood on the left edge, legs staggered in his linebacker stance.

Quarterback Philip Rivers took the snap, and the Chargers outside linebacker was off, making it past rookie tackle D.J. Fluker with a “super athletic move,” as one teammate called it. Ingram worked to slow so he could avoid contact with Rivers, planting his left leg in the turf.

That’s when it gave.

“I was praying that wasn’t what it was when I saw him grab his knee,” outside linebacker Larry English said. “It looked like a textbook ACL situation.”

Said outside linebacker Jarret Johnson: “It’s pretty heartbreaking.”

When injuries occur, an organization has no choice but to move forward. The Chargers do so with the knowledge of what they lost Tuesday morning when Ingram suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament at Chargers Park.

It was a blow, and the effort to overcome it has begun.

From a front office standpoint, an additional piece to the pass rush is needed. Free agent Dwight Freeney is one candidate.

The former Colts outside linebacker landed in San Diego on Wednesday, taking a physical. His visit with the team will continue today.

San Diego has a little less than $5 million in cap space. That number is not entirely indicative of where the team stands financially, as it must still sign first-round pick D.J. Fluker while saving more than a few million dollars for a reserve budget, allowing flexibility for future roster moves.

Some cap relief will come after June 1. The Chargers retrieve $4.5 million for having released tackle Jared Gaither with a June 1 designation.

From a locker room standpoint, the message this week is clear.

Rally.

“Coach (Mike) McCoy just emphasized guys being able to step up,” English said Wednesday, acknowledging the opportunity that lies ahead on a personal level. “Whether it be defensive guys that may be in the position but even offensively, ... we all as a team have to step up and rally around some spots like that where we may be at a loss.”

Johnson saw something different from Ingram this spring.

The 2012 first-round draft pick was coming into his own. His attitude and temperament were “off the charts,” Johnson said, citing his natural command with teammates on the field and interactivity during meetings.

Since the injury, Ingram has kept up that spirit, those closest to him say.

He was walking Wednesday, expressing optimism about the long recovery ahead. On Twitter, he called the situation “one minor setback to a major comeback.”

“His goals have gone from having a breakout year, showing everyone the type of athlete he is,” Johnson said, “to now staying in shape, getting healthy and getting back as soon as he can so he can continue his previous goal before the injury.”

The first step is surgery.

The 24-year-old is tentatively expected to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery next week. Dr. James Andrews will perform it.

There are recorded cases of an athlete roaring back from such a procedure, defying his timetable. Those cases are extremely rare.

Ingram is expected to miss the 2013 season, the equivalent of a redshirt year, before returning to the field in 2014 at or near full strength.